Adams was a strong advocate of national economic development, promoting infrastructure improvements such as roads and canals. He also established the Smithsonian Institution and the Monroe Doctrine, which asserted U.S. dominance over the Western Hemisphere. However, he was unsuccessful in many of his domestic policies, such as his plan for a national bank, and he faced stiff opposition from the Democratic Party.
As a result, Adams was a one-term president and failed to secure re-election in 1828. He returned to public life as a member of the House of Representatives from Massachusetts, where he served for nine terms. He died in Washington, D.C., in 1848 at the age of 80.
Adams's legacy is mixed. He is remembered as an intelligent and accomplished statesman, but his political career was often hampered by his unpopularity and his inability to build consensus. He is considered to be one of the most controversial presidents in American history.
